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As one might imagine I get a lot of people who have just moved to the DC area in my cab; and a lot of them are from states like Illinois, New Jersey. etc. And when and if the talk turns to firearms, they are blown away by the fact that you can just walk down any street you please here with an exposed, loaded firearm on your hip.

It just kills me that so many of them think I am making this up. Some of them even start shaking and saying they would have never moved here if they knew this. What?? You left freaking Chicago to come here and now you're scared because somebody might have a weapon?? But these are a minority.

Most of these folks want to know the criteria in Virginia (and are surprised when I tell them, Brady Check, cash, and carry) Lots of them say they are glad to be able to defend themselves.

Seems to me there are a whole lot of folks out there who want their rights and are relieved to be located in a state where those rights are respected. So many so that I wonder how the likes of Bloomberg and Daley (and Fenty, but DC is a whole nother manure pile) ever got elected.

What is telling is that when they get all enthusiastic and say they will feel much safer in "DC"; I tell them that this is NOT D.C. IT IS VIRGINIA. ANd I wish I had five bucks for every time one of them has said "BUT D.C. IS WHERE I WOULD NEED IT!!"

I do what I can. I direct them to firearms dealers and ranges and to the NRA. ANd try to warn about all the little technicalities such as the GW Parkway and the dicey status of airport roadways, etc. I always try to give them a source for further info, and most of the time that includes this forum. But no matter what, I always make a big deal out of the fact that it is safer here on this side of the Moat where an honest citizen can legally bear arms, than across the river where only cops and crooks (and crooked cops) are allowed to carry. For a lot of them, it is a real eye-opener.

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Several of us in Virginia have gone and had business cards printed up with the pertinent OC information. Ed (a member) will mail you some if you send him a PM.

I'd offer to do the same, but I found 2 typos on my current batch. How long will it take to distribute 1K cards in the Richmond Va area? Not as long as you think. Between passing them out to anybody I talk with about OC while I am out and about, I also carry them to gun shows and leave stacks at several of the gun stores/ranges in the area.

Keep the word spreading.

stay safe.

skidmark

"He'll regret it to his dying day....if ever he lives that long."----The Quiet Man

Because stupidity isn't a race, and everybody can win.

"No matter how much contempt you have for the media in all this, you don't have enough"
----Allahpundit

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Alexcabbie wrote:

As one might imagine I get a lot of people who have just moved to the DC area in my cab; and a lot of them are from states like Illinois, New Jersey. etc. And when and if the talk turns to firearms, they are blown away by the fact that you can just walk down any street you please here with an exposed, loaded firearm on your hip.

It just kills me that so many of them think I am making this up. Some of them even start shaking and saying they would have never moved here if they knew this. What?? You left freaking Chicago to come here and now you're scared because somebody might have a weapon?? But these are a minority.

Most of these folks want to know the criteria in Virginia (and are surprised when I tell them, Brady Check, cash, and carry) Lots of them say they are glad to be able to defend themselves.

Seems to me there are a whole lot of folks out there who want their rights and are relieved to be located in a state where those rights are respected. So many so that I wonder how the likes of Bloomberg and Daley (and Fenty, but DC is a whole nother manure pile) ever got elected.

What is telling is that when they get all enthusiastic and say they will feel much safer in "DC"; I tell them that this is NOT D.C. IT IS VIRGINIA. ANd I wish I had five bucks for every time one of them has said "BUT D.C. IS WHERE I WOULD NEED IT!!"

I do what I can. I direct them to firearms dealers and ranges and to the NRA. ANd try to warn about all the little technicalities such as the GW Parkway and the dicey status of airport roadways, etc. I always try to give them a source for further info, and most of the time that includes this forum. But no matter what, I always make a big deal out of the fact that it is safer here on this side of the Moat where an honest citizen can legally bear arms, than across the river where only cops and crooks (and crooked cops) are allowed to carry. For a lot of them, it is a real eye-opener.

I have run into this quite a bit as well. Most of the people with whom I have discussed this with are clearly not from Virginia. But a few are and just don't realize what rights they still may enjoy as Virginians. What I do find strange is when people, in their surprise, begin to speak negatively about being able to OC (you did mention this). And some of the most vociferous have been gun owners!

In the final seconds of your life, just before your killer is about to dispatch you to that great eternal darkness, what would you rather have in your hand? A cell phone or a gun?

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I adjusted the title a bit - a state does not have to be "gold star" to allow open carry without a permit - 26 states allow open carry without permit - 27 if you count California and their complicated unincorporated area open carry law.

Please do not further the rumor that a state must be "gold star" to allow unlicensed open carry- click on the definitions if you have any questions about the categories, thanks!

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Noted, Mike; however what I was pointing out was that here in Virginia, with complete pre-emption; you can as I said walk down any street you like; whereas in West Virginia there is still a patchwork of "grandfathered" local laws. I'm not sure about OC in Wheeling but I do know that at the Casino the security people like it if you check your weapon with the Security Office. (and Wheeling Island is a nice little casino).

I do think that "gold star" status is rather the gold standard. All I have to worry about in Virginia is courthouses, police stations, jails, schools and a few other places and not whether I am in some town where I could get locked up. And there's still room for iimprovement in Virginia. IMO Vermont has the most reasonable carry restrictions - practically none.

But I also get your point about some myth that may develop that OC is an "all or nothing" proposition. I'm just telling newcomers about Virginia, which is Gold Star, and I think you and everyone will agree Gold Star is better by far.

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So, Alex, I'm curious: how does the topic come up with your customers?

"Where to? Okay. You new here? Welcome to Virginia... have you started open carrying your pistol yet?"

The subject comes up in a number of ways, usually when people ask me about "dangerous areas" or remark about the peril my profession (and I consider it such) puts me in.

On one occasion I had a young lady who commonly walked home from the Braddock Road Metro stop, which has upper-middle-class housing and "luxury highrise" apartments cheek-by-jowl with some of the worst crime in Alexandria. She was frightened just waiting for a cab to show up - it takes a while as we usually don't hang around there after dark - and was surprised to find out that in Virginia it is cash-and-open-carry from the gun store to your hip.

One thing is when they ask about CHP most of them will need to take an NRA approved course, which I don't need as a veteran and former military criminal investigator at that. But if there are approved CHP courses nearer to Alexandria than NRA Headquarters, woulld someone let me know so I don't send folks all the way out to the other side of Fairfax City?? Thanx!

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So, Alex, I'm curious: how does the topic come up with your customers?

"Where to? Okay. You new here? Welcome to Virginia... have you started open carrying your pistol yet?"

The subject comes up in a number of ways, usually when people ask me about "dangerous areas" or remark about the peril my profession (and I consider it such) puts me in.

On one occasion I had a young lady who commonly walked home from the Braddock Road Metro stop, which has upper-middle-class housing and "luxury highrise" apartments cheek-by-jowl with some of the worst crime in Alexandria. She was frightened just waiting for a cab to show up - it takes a while as we usually don't hang around there after dark - and was surprised to find out that in Virginia it is cash-and-open-carry from the gun store to your hip.

One thing is when they ask about CHP most of them will need to take an NRA approved course, which I don't need as a veteran and former military criminal investigator at that. But if there are approved CHP courses nearer to Alexandria than NRA Headquarters, woulld someone let me know so I don't send folks all the way out to the other side of Fairfax City?? Thanx!

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So, Alex, I'm curious: how does the topic come up with your customers?

"Where to? Okay. You new here? Welcome to Virginia... have you started open carrying your pistol yet?"

The subject comes up in a number of ways, usually when people ask me about "dangerous areas" or remark about the peril my profession (and I consider it such) puts me in.

On one occasion I had a young lady who commonly walked home from the Braddock Road Metro stop, which has upper-middle-class housing and "luxury highrise" apartments cheek-by-jowl with some of the worst crime in Alexandria. She was frightened just waiting for a cab to show up - it takes a while as we usually don't hang around there after dark - and was surprised to find out that in Virginia it is cash-and-open-carry from the gun store to your hip.

One thing is when they ask about CHP most of them will need to take an NRA approved course, which I don't need as a veteran and former military criminal investigator at that. But if there are approved CHP courses nearer to Alexandria than NRA Headquarters, woulld someone let me know so I don't send folks all the way out to the other side of Fairfax City?? Thanx!

Hee-hee! Generating more business for yourself? Ingenious!

You may have AlexCabbie confused with ProShooter.

If AlexCabbie was generating business, he'd be offering to drive them to Fairfax - it ought to be a hefty fare. Instead, he's trying to save his customers' some money they could spend on guns, ammo, and training. I like that in an independent businessman!

stay safe.

skidmark

"He'll regret it to his dying day....if ever he lives that long."----The Quiet Man

Because stupidity isn't a race, and everybody can win.

"No matter how much contempt you have for the media in all this, you don't have enough"
----Allahpundit

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All I have to worry about in Virginia is courthouses, police stations, jails, schools and a few other places and not whether I am in some town where I could get locked up.

Police stations are not prohibited areas. But you should have had the post office on your list. Not sure what you mean about the "some town'. With preemption no town can supersede state law.

The police stations in the People's Republics of Arlington and Alexandria are both no-go for any kind of carry; Alexandria is posted and Arlington PD is located - at least the public entrance - within the Courthouse. What I mean "some town" is that in Virginia I DONT have to worry about that, but in West Virginia with its "grandfathered" local ordinances I do.

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The Alexandria PD may be posted, but that is meaningless under ¬ß 15.2-915. Only the "secure area" is off limits, and they cannot post the entire PD as the secure area.

Not that I'm volunteering to test it, but THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LEE COUNTY V. EDGAR BACON, COMMISSIONER OF ACCOUNTS OF LEE COUNTY http://www.virginia1774.org/CourthouseArea.htmlsays that only that portion of the building used exclusively for the Circuit Court is the courthouse. I really do wish someone would get with VCDL or NRA or GOA or 2AFoundation or ACLU to agree to test the strength of the decision of the Court of Appeals.

stay safe.

skidmark

"He'll regret it to his dying day....if ever he lives that long."----The Quiet Man

Because stupidity isn't a race, and everybody can win.

"No matter how much contempt you have for the media in all this, you don't have enough"
----Allahpundit

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All I have to worry about in Virginia is courthouses, police stations, jails, schools and a few other places and not whether I am in some town where I could get locked up.

Police stations are not prohibited areas. But you should have had the post office on your list. Not sure what you mean about the "some town'. With preemption no town can supersede state law.

The police stations in the People's Republics of Arlington and Alexandria are both no-go for any kind of carry; Alexandria is posted and Arlington PD is located - at least the public entrance - within the Courthouse. What I mean "some town" is that in Virginia I DONT have to worry about that, but in West Virginia with its "grandfathered" local ordinances I do.

This really annoys me as a resident of Alexandria. I have not yet applied for my CHP, maybe I should be the one to test this.

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The metal detectors etc (as you probably know) are stationed at the entrance of the "Public Safety Complex" (ie the PD and the jail); so you have to be searched electronically before you even enter the COURTYARD of the complex, never mind the actual buildings housing the PD the Sheriff's Office and the Adult Detention Center (what was wrong with "Jail"??) There are signs posted warning "No firearms, handguns blahblan blah" without written permission of the Sheriff or chief of police".

If you want to test this, buddy you had better have lawyers from the GOA, ACLU, the MOOSE and the Elks and a tv crew with you. After 9-11 when they started housing high-risk Federal inmates at the City ADC the security measures went NUTS.

Incidentally, when they built the PD part of the complex they didn't do an adequate survey of the soil conditions; which means that the Alexandria Poilce Department is an archetectural screwup similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Put a ball bearing on the floor and it rolls all by itself. So now they re building a whole new PD complex on Wheeler Avenue. Our tax dollars at work.

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Alexcabbie wrote:

The metal detectors etc (as you probably know) are stationed at the entrance of the "Public Safety Complex" (ie the PD and the jail); so you have to be searched electronically before you even enter the COURTYARD of the complex, never mind the actual buildings housing the PD the Sheriff's Office and the Adult Detention Center (what was wrong with "Jail"??) There are signs posted warning "No firearms, handguns blahblan blah" without written permission of the Sheriff or chief of police".

If you want to test this, buddy you had better have lawyers from the GOA, ACLU, the MOOSE and the Elks and a tv crew with you. After 9-11 when they started housing high-risk Federal inmates at the City ADC the security measures went NUTS.

Incidentally, when they built the PD part of the complex they didn't do an adequate survey of the soil conditions; which means that the Alexandria Poilce Department is an archetectural screwup similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Put a ball bearing on the floor and it rolls all by itself. So now they re building a whole new PD complex on Wheeler Avenue. Our tax dollars at work.

Interesting, I didn't know any of this, never been over there, but I don't like the idea of federal prisoners being in there. How do they justify the whole place being gun free re preemption?

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Well, Jonesy; drive on down to the end of Mill Road - and keep right or you'll wind up in the express lanes of 495 headed for MD 210 before you can turn around - and take a gander at what you're paying for. Once you've gone thru the guardhouse there's about another 100 yard walk before you enter the jail/sheriff/pd complex.

(Just a fun factoid: I am constantly mis-spelling "Sheriff" as "sherrif" and why is this?

BECAUSE I know that the office of Sheriff is derived from the medieval office of "Shire-Reeve". )

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Alexcabbie wrote:

The metal detectors etc (as you probably know) are stationed at the entrance of the "Public Safety Complex" (ie the PD and the jail); so you have to be searched electronically before you even enter the COURTYARD of the complex, never mind the actual buildings housing the PD the Sheriff's Office and the Adult Detention Center (what was wrong with "Jail"??) There are signs posted warning "No firearms, handguns blahblan blah" without written permission of the Sheriff or chief of police".

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McX wrote:

Check your weapon when you enter a casino? What? Are they afraid you'll draw down, on one of their one-armed bandits? Halt thief! I wonder how the "native American" casinos in Wisconsin handle Open Carry in their facilities? Don't they get to run around with loin cloths, and bows and arrows in there?

I know the ones I looked into while in OKin August didn't allow any sort of carry despite permits.

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McX wrote:

Check your weapon when you enter a casino? What? Are they afraid you'll draw down, on one of their one-armed bandits? Halt thief! I wonder how the "native American" casinos in Wisconsin handle Open Carry in their facilities? Don't they get to run around with loin cloths, and bows and arrows in there?

Each tribe throughout the country has their own laws and rules, although many do mirror existingstate and federal laws. They are a soveriegn nation located within the United States.
I can tell you that in Lac Du Flambeau WI, a person who is not a card-carrying tribal memberis prohibited from posessing any firearm whileon tribal owned land.

So If I were to walk down Peace-Pipe Rd. in Lac Du flambeau, I would be breaking their laws. The casino in Flambeau used to be posted "No Weapons allowed" at every door, but that has since been removed during their latest remodel. I bet it was more for appearance to non-locals than anything else.